TSI Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA) and the TSI Assessment

Before you take the new TSI Assessment, you must participate in a Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA). Richland College is required by the state of Texas to provide the Pre-Assessment Activity as well as document your participation, so it is very important that you complete this activity before you take the test. Also, you will not be allowed to take the new TSI Assessment until you have completed this activity. The activity consists of a short online video and a brief practice test located on eConnect. Please login using your student ID number and follow the instructions.

The Texas Success Initiative (TSI) is a program designed to help Richland College determine if you are ready for college-level course work in the general areas of reading, writing and mathematics. This program also will help determine what type of course or intervention will best meet your needs to help you become better prepared for college level course work if you are not ready. If you are an incoming college student in Texas, you are required to take the TSI Assessment — unlessyou are already exempt — to determine your readiness for college-level work. Based on how you perform, you may either be enrolled in a college-level course that matches your skill level or be placed in the appropriate developmental course or intervention to improve your skills and prepare you for success in college-level courses.

Examinees take a placement test of 20–25 items that produces a numeric scale score ranging from 310 to 390. Those students who do not score at the college-ready level on the math or reading placement test will take the diagnostic test in order to gain detailed information regarding the academic strengths and weaknesses of the student in that subject area. Students who score 350 or higher on the Writing multiple-choice test or who score an NRS Level 4 on the Adult Basic Education (ABE) Writing multiple-choice test will be asked to submit an essay.

The TSI Placement and Diagnostic tests are computer adaptive assessments, and the specific questions that appear on any given test administration varies based on each individual student’s performance on each item. Questions increase or decrease in difficulty level depending on how a student responds.

The assessments are untimed; however, it is important for students to allow enough time to complete each test because the results are a key factor in determining the course or courses in which they can enroll. As students complete the assessment, a score report will be generated immediately.

Before you take the TSI Assessment, you must participate in a Pre-Assessment Activity (PAA). Richland College is required by the state of Texas to provide the Pre-Assessment Activity as well as document your participation, so it is very important that you complete this activity before you take the test. Also, you will not be allowed to take the TSI Assessment until you have completed this activity. The activity consists of a short online video and a brief practice test located on eConnect. Please login using your student ID number and follow the instructions.